Fence rail device

ABSTRACT

A fence rail device includes a rail elongated between a first end and a second end. The rail has an outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section defining a hollow interior. A slot extends through the bottom section to define a pair of lateral bottom edges. A top cross wall is spaced from the top section of the outer wall to define an upper interior space and a bottom cross wall is positioned between the top cross wall and the bottom section to define a middle interior space and a lower interior space. Each of a pair of lower walls extends between the bottom section and the bottom cross wall proximate to a respective one of the side sections. Each of a pair of medial walls extends between the bottom cross wall and the top cross wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to fence rail devices and more particularlypertains to a new fence rail device for facilitating construction andenhancing durability of a fence construction.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to fence rail devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a rail elongated between a first end and a secondend. The rail has an outer wall having a top section, a pair of sidesections, and a bottom section defining a hollow interior. A slotextends through the bottom section to define a pair of lateral bottomedges. A top cross wall is spaced from the top section of the outer wallto define an upper interior space and a bottom cross wall is positionedbetween the top cross wall and the bottom section to define a middleinterior space and a lower interior space. Each of a pair of lower wallsextends between the bottom section and the bottom cross wall proximateto a respective one of the side sections. Each of a pair of medial wallsextends between the bottom cross wall and the top cross wall.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a fence rail deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detailed top front side perspective view of an embodiment ofthe disclosure as indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side end view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side end view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new fence rail embodying the principles and concepts of anembodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the referencenumeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the fence rail device 10generally comprises a rail 12. The rail 12 has a first end 14 and asecond end 16. The rail 12 is elongated between the first end 14 and thesecond end 16. The rail 12 comprises an outer wall 18 defining a hollowinterior 20 extending between the first end 14 and the second end 16.For purposes of description the rail 12 is described relative to theorientation shown at the top of FIG. 1. The rail 12 is also used in aninverted position as shown at the bottom of FIG. 1. The outer wall 18has a top section 22, a pair of side sections 24, and a bottom section26. The top section 22 is generally parallel to the bottom section 26and the side sections 24 are parallel to each other. The side sections24 are substantially planar except as described below.

A slot 28 extends through the bottom section 26 and fully along a lengthof the rail 12 between the first end 14 and the second end 16 to definea pair of lateral bottom edges 30.

Each of a pair of cross walls 34 is planar. Each of the cross walls 34extends between the side sections 24. The pair of cross walls 34includes a top cross wall 36 and a bottom cross wall 38. The top crosswall 36 is spaced from the top section 22 of the outer wall 18 to definean upper interior space 40 within the outer wall 18. The bottom crosswall 38 is positioned between the top cross wall 34 and the bottomsection 26 to define a middle interior space 42 above the bottom crosswall 38 and a lower interior space 44 under the bottom cross wall 38.

Each of a pair of lower walls 46 is coupled to and extends between thebottom section 26 and the bottom cross wall 38. Each of the lower walls46 is positioned proximate to a respective one of the side sections 24.Each of the lateral bottom edges 30 extends inwardly from a base 48 ofan associated one of the lower walls 46 defining a pair of spaced lips50 extending between the first end 14 and the second end 16 of the rail12. Each of a pair of medial walls 52 is coupled to and extends betweenthe bottom cross wall 38 and the top cross wall 36. A distance betweenthe medial walls 52 is less than a distance between the lower walls 46.An outward face 54 of each of the medial walls 52 is vertically alignedwith an associated one of the lateral bottom edges 30.

Each of a pair of upper grooves 56 extends into a respective one of theside sections 24 of the outer wall 18 of the rail 12. Similarly, each ofa pair of lower grooves 58 extends into a respective one of the sidesections 24 of the outer wall 18 of the rail 12. Each of the sidesections 24 has a constant thickness wherein each of the upper grooves56 defines a corresponding upper interior ridge 60 within the hollowinterior 20 and each of the lower grooves 58 defines a correspondinglower interior ridge 64 within the hollow interior 20. Each of the upperinterior ridges 60 is positioned within the medial interior space 42adjacent to the top cross wall 36. Each of the lower interior ridges 64is positioned within the lower interior space 44 adjacent to the bottomcross wall 38. A distance between the top cross wall 36 and the topsection 22 is less than a distance between the bottom cross wall 38 andthe bottom section 26.

In use, the described positional relationships and structures enhancestiffness and connection of the rail 12 to end supports 66. The rail 12is one of a pair of rails 12 having the same structure as describedabove. The slot 28 of one rail 12 receives and covers the top 68 ofpanels 70. The fence rail device 10 is described above in theorientation for a top rail position. A second rail 12 is used and isinverted as shown at the bottom of FIG. 1. The slot 28 receives thebottom end 74 of the panels 70 using end supports 66, also in aninverted position. In combination with fence posts 72, panels 70, andthe end supports 66, the fence rail device 10 facilitates constructionof a durable fence structure.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A fence rail device comprising: a rail, said rail having afirst end and a second end, said rail being elongated between said firstend and said second end, said rail comprising an outer wall defining ahollow interior extending between said first end and said second end,said outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and abottom section, said side sections being parallel to each other, saidside sections being substantially planar; a slot extending through saidbottom section between said first end and said second end to define apair of lateral bottom edges; a pair of cross walls, each of said crosswalls being planar, each of said cross walls extending between said sidesections, said pair of cross walls including a top cross wall and abottom cross wall, said top cross wall being spaced from said topsection of said outer wall to define an upper interior space within saidouter wall, said bottom cross wall being positioned between said topcross wall and said bottom section to define a middle interior spaceabove said bottom cross wall and a lower interior space under saidbottom cross wall; a pair of lower walls, each of said lower walls beingcoupled to and extending between said bottom section and said bottomcross wall, each of said lower walls being positioned proximate to arespective one of said side sections; and a pair of medial walls, eachof said medial walls being coupled to and extending between said bottomcross wall and said top cross wall.
 2. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a distance between said medial walls being less than adistance between said lower walls.
 3. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a pair of upper grooves, each of said upper grooves extendinginto a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of saidrail.
 4. The device of claim 3, further comprising each of said sidesections having a constant thickness wherein each of said upper groovesdefines a corresponding upper interior ridge within said hollowinterior.
 5. The device of claim 4, further comprising each of saidupper interior ridges being positioned within said medial interior spaceadjacent to said top cross wall
 6. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a pair of lower grooves, each of said lower grooves extendinginto a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of saidrail.
 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising each of said sidesections having a constant thickness wherein each of said lower groovesdefines a corresponding lower interior ridge within said hollowinterior.
 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising each of saidlower interior ridges being positioned within said lower interior spaceadjacent to said bottom cross wall.
 9. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising each of said lateral bottom edges extending inwardly from abase of an associated one of said lower walls defining a pair of spacedlips extending between said first end and said second end of said rail.10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a distance between saidtop cross wall and said top section being less than a distance betweensaid bottom wall and said bottom section.
 11. A fence rail devicecomprising: a rail, said rail having a first end and a second end, saidrail being elongated between said first end and said second end, saidrail comprising an outer wall defining a hollow interior extendingbetween said first end and said second end, said outer wall having a topsection, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section, said sidesections being parallel to each other, said side sections beingsubstantially planar; a slot extending through said bottom sectionbetween said first end and said second end to define a pair of lateralbottom edges; a pair of cross walls, each of said cross walls beingplanar, each of said cross walls extending between said side sections,said pair of cross walls including a top cross wall and a bottom crosswall, said top cross wall being spaced from said top section of saidouter wall to define an upper interior space within said outer wall,said bottom cross wall being positioned between said top cross wall andsaid bottom section to define a middle interior space above said bottomcross wall and a lower interior space under said bottom cross wall; apair of lower walls, each of said lower walls being coupled to andextending between said bottom section and said bottom cross wall, eachof said lower walls being positioned proximate to a respective one ofsaid side sections, each of said lateral bottom edges extending inwardlyfrom a base of an associated one of said lower walls defining a pair ofspaced lips extending between said first end and said second end of saidrail; and a pair of medial walls, each of said medial walls beingcoupled to and extending between said bottom cross wall and said topcross wall, a distance between said medial walls being less than adistance between said lower walls; a pair of upper grooves, each of saidupper grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections ofsaid outer wall of said rail; a pair of lower grooves, each of saidlower grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections ofsaid outer wall of said rail; each of said side sections having aconstant thickness wherein each of said upper grooves defines acorresponding upper interior ridge within said hollow interior and eachof said lower grooves defines a corresponding lower interior ridgewithin said hollow interior, each of said upper interior ridges beingpositioned within said medial interior space adjacent to said top crosswall, each of said lower interior ridges being positioned within saidlower interior space adjacent to said bottom cross wall; and a distancebetween said top cross wall and said top section being less than adistance between said bottom wall and said bottom section.